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The document addresses common concerns and misconceptions regarding carbon capture and storage (CCS), asserting that it is a proven technology essential for reaching net-zero emissions, especially in industries like cement and steel where electrification is insufficient. It highlights Europe's significant storage potential and the role of government funding in scaling the technology.

The Clean Air Task Force asserts that the current TEN-E proposal fails to support EU decarbonization by excluding CO2 storage and non-pipeline transport (such as ships, barges, rail, and trucks). The document argues that because geologic storage is unequally distributed across Europe, cross-border storage is a prerequisite for a level playing field in the Single Market. It claims the exclusion of storage contradicts the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, increases investor risk, and ignores the fact that climate mitigation only materializes at the point of permanent storage.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) seeks $20 million over three years to accelerate the global deployment of carbon management technologies by 2050. The organization focuses on establishing government-funded innovation and commercialization programs in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. CATF argues that carbon capture is essential for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like cement, steel, and aviation, and for achieving negative emissions. Current deployment is hindered by cost barriers, technology risks, and a lack of infrastructure and pollution standards. In the U.S., CATF leverages the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, while in Europe, it advocates for a comprehensive EU policy framework to scale up the approximately 70 planned projects. The strategy involves using first-mover nations to drive cost reductions and learning, which will then facilitate technology transfer to emerging markets in Asia and other regions.

The document outlines a policy package comprising 45Q tax credit enhancements, the SCALE Act for infrastructure, and the appropriation of the Energy Act of 2020, which together could increase US carbon management capacity 13-fold by the mid-2030s.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that while the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are projected to reduce U.S. emissions by just over 40% by 2030 relative to 2005 levels, additional federal policy is required to reach net-zero emissions by midcentury. CATF is advocating for several specific policy interventions, including a zero-carbon fuel standard, revised siting and permitting for clean energy infrastructure, and a federal electricity procurement model requiring 24-7 zero-emission clean electricity. The organization is also focusing on supporting advanced nuclear supply chains, reducing methane from oil, gas, and agriculture, and developing regulatory structures for hydrogen infrastructure. To implement these strategies and expand its policy expertise, CATF seeks $25 million in funding over the next five years.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is seeking $10 million over five years to implement a strategy for decarbonization in the Middle East. The initiative focuses on transitioning the region away from unabated fossil fuels, diversifying economies, and establishing a shared climate vision among Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Key objectives include reducing methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030 and deploying technologies such as carbon management, zero-carbon fuels, and nuclear energy.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is expanding its U.S. state policy program to help states implement federal climate funding and regulations, and to pass state-level policies such as clean energy standards. The program aims to address barriers like budget cuts and political headwinds to propel the U.S. toward a net-zero economy, requiring an annual budget of approximately $20 million.

The document argues that CCS is essential for decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial sectors like cement and steel and for achieving net-negative emissions after 2050. It details the technical process of capturing CO2 using amines or membranes and storing it in saline aquifers or depleted reservoirs at depths exceeding 800 metres. The text asserts that geological storage is permanent and safe, with projected annual leak rates as low as 0.0002% in regulated industries. While costs vary by source—ranging from under 90 euro per tonne for fertilisers to 700 euro for direct air capture—the document suggests that government support for shared infrastructure can drive down costs, similar to the trajectory of offshore wind. It highlights approximately 100 proposed projects in Europe, particularly around the North Sea, and notes that the EU may need to capture 300 to 600 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2050.

Romania aims for climate neutrality by 2050 and a net greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 85% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. To achieve this, the country can leverage an estimated storage capacity of 22.6 Gt in saline aquifers and depleted hydrocarbon fields, which is sufficient to store nearly 330 years of combined point source emissions from Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Industrial sectors currently emit 10 million tons of fossil CO2 per year (Mtpa), representing 38% of total CO2 emissions, with power and heat (12.81 MtCO2/yr) and cement and lime (5.80 MtCO2/yr) being the largest point sources. Modelling indicates Romania will need storage capacity of 10 million tonnes annually by 2035, increasing to 15 million tonnes by 2050. Analysis of 92 emitters shows that over 50% are located within 10 km of potential storage resources. Under the Net Zero Industry Act, Romania's major oil and gas producers may be required to develop over 10 Mt of annual injection-ready CO2 storage capacity by 2030. The document recommends the rapid development of a dedicated CCS strategy, robust storage assessments, and the creation of funding mechanisms such as carbon contracts for difference to reduce investor risk.

Poland is the EU's third-largest emitter, with industrial point source fossil emissions totaling 40.6 MtCO2/year. The document argues that CCS is essential for the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries—particularly cement, steel, and fertilizer—and for providing firm power in a decarbonised energy grid. Poland possesses a significant CO2 storage potential of over 15 Gt, primarily in saline aquifers (14.3 Gt) and hydrocarbon fields (1 Gt), which could store 369 years of its annual industrial point source fossil emissions. Current projects like GO4ECOPLANET aim to decarbonise cement production at the Kujawy plant, with CO2 transported to the North Sea via the ECO2CEE project. The document highlights that developing domestic onshore storage and pipeline infrastructure could reduce transport and storage costs from €93-€100/t to between €23-€49/t. To accelerate deployment, the author recommends developing national storage resources, supporting projects to Final Investment Decision (FID) through mechanisms like carbon contracts for difference, and establishing cross-border partnerships with other EU Member States and Baltic countries.

The document argues that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is essential to counterbalance residual emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C, requiring 20-660 gigatons of net negative CO2 emissions until 2100. It emphasizes the need for high-quality certification to ensure environmental protection and reliability, highlighting the EU's proposed Certification Framework for Carbon Removals (CRCF) as a regulatory tool to monitor, report, verify, and certify removal activities across three categories: permanent carbon storage, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products.

The document highlights that superhot rock geothermal energy could be a transformative resource for Costa Rica, with just 1% of its estimated resource potential capable of producing 77 GW of energy capacity. This amount far exceeds the country's 2021 electricity consumption of 12,734 GWh. While not expected to reach commercial scale by Costa Rica's 2030 goal of 100% renewable electricity, the technology could support long-term net-zero goals by 2050, diversify energy supply, and reduce land-use requirements compared to other energy sources.

The document highlights that just 1% of Ethiopia's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 1657 GW of energy capacity, far exceeding the country's projected 2050 electricity demand of 149,316 GWh. While not expected to reach commercial scale by 2030, the technology is presented as a high-density, firm power source that could reduce energy poverty, create jobs, and support net-zero goals by 2050.

The document asserts that Germany possesses the necessary technological innovations to combat climate change and reduce dependence on Russian energy, but lacks the scale for implementation. It highlights that climate tech startups, particularly those focused on hardware for heavy industry (steel and cement) and sustainable fuels, are key to this transition. To increase the number of these startups hundredfold, the author proposes six measures: implementing Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs), adopting Green Public Procurement (GPP) for building materials, focusing public funds like the Deep Tech Future Fund on climate tech, streamlining research-to-startup guidelines at universities, reducing bureaucracy, and expanding 'living labs' for scaling innovations.

The document highlights that just 1% of India's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 303 GW of capacity, potentially meeting 43% of the country's projected 2050 electricity demand. It argues that this technology could replace all coal and gas imports for electricity, significantly reduce land use compared to other renewables, and improve urban air quality by replacing fossil fuel combustion.

The document highlights that just 1% of Indonesia's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 1,982 GW of energy capacity, far exceeding the country's projected 2050 electricity demand of 936,986 GWh. It argues that this technology could replace all coal and gas in electricity production, reducing emissions by approximately 240 megatonnes of CO2eq, while requiring significantly less land than solar, wind, or biomass. The report suggests Indonesia can leverage its existing conventional geothermal expertise to transition to this emerging technology, which could also foster socio-economic development and improve air quality.

The document highlights that just 1% of Laos's estimated superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 200 GW of energy capacity, far exceeding the country's 2021 electricity consumption of 44,913 GWh. While not expected to reach commercial scale by 2030, the technology could theoretically replace all coal and gas in the electricity sector, reducing emissions by approximately 14 megatonnes of CO2eq, which represents 23% of Laos's Nationally Determined Contribution goal. The report also notes the technology's low land footprint, requiring roughly 12 km² per 1 GW, and its ability to provide reliable 24/7 power.

The document highlights that just 1% of Nigeria's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 1,798 GW of energy capacity, far exceeding the country's projected 2050 electricity demand of 282,824 GWh. It argues that this technology could replace fossil fuel power generation, reduce carbon emissions by approximately 15 megatonnes, and leverage existing subsurface expertise from the oil and gas sector. Additionally, it notes the technology's low land-use footprint (12 km² per 1 GW) compared to other energy sources and its ability to provide continuous, non-intermittent power to the grid.

The document highlights that just 1% of Saudi Arabia's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 1,172 GW of energy capacity, far exceeding the country's projected 2050 electricity demand of 499,142 GWh. It argues that this technology could replace all fossil fuels used in the electricity sector, reducing emissions by approximately 250 megatonnes of CO2eq, while requiring significantly less land than solar, wind, or biomass. Additionally, it suggests the sector could leverage existing subsurface expertise from the oil and gas industry and support large-scale desalination.

The document highlights that just 1% of Türkiye's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 594 GW of energy capacity, potentially replacing all coal and gas used for electricity production and meeting the country's projected 2050 electricity demand of 609,503 GWh. It argues that this technology would enhance energy security by reducing dependence on coal (58% imported) and natural gas (98% imported), while requiring significantly less land (12 km² per 1 GW) than solar, wind, or biomass.